Former President Jerry Rawlings has arrived in New York at the invitation of former US American President Bill Clinton and the Africa House of the New York University, to attend events marking the fifth meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative and give a lecture at the Africa House.
A statement issued in Accra said President Rawlings would on Tuesday attend the opening plenary session of the Clinton Global Initiative, which will be addressed by US President Barack Obama.
The Clinton Global Initiative is a government-private sector think-tank initiated by the former American President, which gathers world leaders annually to brainstorm on issues of globalisation.
The statement said more than 60 former and current heads of state will be attending the opening session.
They include President John Atta Mills and former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The 2009 meeting will address global challenges - education, energy and climate change, global health and economic empowerment - via four new action areas: "Harnessing Innovation for Development; Strengthening Infrastructure; Building Human Capital; and Financing an Equitable Future.
Other activities former President Rawlings will participate in during the fifth meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative are a breakout session on education and global health, a plenary session on strengthening infrastructure, and a special citizens' awards ceremony.
The statement said former President Rawlings, who is accompanied by his wife Nana Konadu, would on Tuesday address a selection of professors, students and members of the public under the auspices of the Africa House, which is an inter-disciplinary institute of the New York University that focuses on economic, political and social issues on the continent.
The former President will speak on the topic, "Mobilising African People for Economic Development".
The statement said on Thursday, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings would also feature at Africa House with a lecture on the subject, "Mobilising Women for Economic Development".
She would also address a cross-section of staff and students at Monmouth University on Friday, the statement said.